Apparatus for producing prefolded diapers



Oct. 10, 1967 G. T. GORE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFOLDED DIAPERS Filed April 1. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

10, 196 G. T. GORE 3,345,965

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFOLDED DIAPERS Filed April 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, G T, G

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFOLDED DIAPYERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 1. 1965 United States Patent 3,345,965 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFOLDED DIAPERS Graves T. Gore, Ware Shoals, S.C., assignor to Riegel Textile Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 444,614 6 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers from a continuous web of textile material including supply means, driven feeding means for feeding a continuous Web of material from the supply means, folding means for folding the continuous web of material with a triple reverse fold to form a four-layer center panel and two two-layer side panels, securing means for securing the folded web in the folded condition, cutting means for cutting the folded and secured web into individual diaper lengths, and means for interrupting the operation of the feeding means during operation of the cutting means comprising spring clutch means adapted to be disengaged upon actuation of the cutting means.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically producing prefolded diapers and more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically forming prefolded diapers from an open width, continuous web of textile material.

In order to provide better diapering, handling and laundering by consumers and diaper services, diapers are often folded and sewn or otherwise secured in the folded position by the diaper manufacturer to provide a-prefolded diaper which is ready for use.

In the prior manufacture of prefolded diapers, it was necessary to carry out a series of separate steps by a series of separate operators, either manually or with separate machines. This necessarily involved a large number of operators, time consumption, inefficiency and costliness. Another disadvantage of this type of manufacturing operation was the amount of space necessary to hold these separate operators and machines. Also, the human element involved in these separate operations by separate operators produced a tendency towards non-uniformity in the finished products.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for automatically producing prefolded diapers which will eliminate the various operators, cut down on time consumption, increase efficiency, reduce cost, conserve space and increase uniformity in the finished product.

In accordance with this invention, an apparatus and method is provided whereby a continuous, open width web of textile material is fed from a supply roll. The com tinuous web is automatically folded with a triple reverse fold to form a center panel comprised of four folded layers of textile material and two side panels extending transversely outwardly from each side of the center panel comprised of two folded over layers of textile material. The folded continuous web is then secured in the folded condition thereof by inserting longitudinal lines of stitching therein. The folded and sewn continuous web is then fed through a cutting means where the material is cut transversely into individually cut diapers of predetermined lengths. The individually cut diapers are then fed through an end closure means where the folded cut edges of the diapers are closed by inserting overedge stitching along each of the cut edges. The diapers may then be stacked into stacks of predetermined numbers for removal by an operator. This apparatus and method makes it possible to automatically produce a prefolded diaper without the necessity of utilizing individual operators to perform the 7 various operations necessary.

Further features of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the following more detailed de-' scription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view, partially broken away, particularly illustrating the folding apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper material after receiving the initial folds therein and taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of this invention omitting a part of the folding apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the prefolded diaper formed by the apparatus and method of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional View of the diaper of FIGURE 5 and taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along the line 7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the spring clutch utilized in the apparatus of FIGURE 7 and taken substantially along the line 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of the end closure apparatus of this invention taken substantially along the line 9 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 9 taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the drawings, a supply roll, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, is provided. The

supply roll 10 contains a continuous web of open width textile material 11. The supply roll 10' is supported on a generally horizontally and vertically extending stationary frame portion 12 forming a part of the apparatus of this invention.

The continuous web of textile material 11 is fed from the supply roll 10, by means to be hereinafter described, in a generally vertical path under an elongate generally vertically extending support plate 13. As the web of textile material 11 passes under the plate 13, the outer edges thereof are engaged 'by a first folding means comprising folding elongate rods 14 and 15, which converge in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to cause the web to fold around the plate 13 to form first and second reverse folds, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The folded web of textile material 11 is fed from the support plate 13, by a means to be hereinafter described, in a generally upwardly vertical path around a roll 16 rotatably mounted at the upper portion of stationary frame portion 12. As the continuous web 11 passes around the roll 16, it is fed in a generally downwardly vertical path of travel.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the frame portion 12 has mounted on the other side thereof from the support plate 13, a second folding means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 17. This folding means 17 comprises an elongate member which is generally U-shaped in cross-section, as may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4,

ing member 20 decreases in width from the top end of the elongate member 17 to the bottom end of the elongate member 17, as may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, while the leg members 18 and 19 are increasing in width.

The folded web of textile material 11 is adapted to pass around the second folding means 17, to form a third reverse fold to form a center'panel 21 comprised of four folded over layers of the textile material 11 and two side panels 22 and 22 eXtending transversely outwardly from each side of the center panel 21 comprised of two folded over layers of textile material 11.

After being folded by the folding means 17, the folded continuous web of textile material passes around a cushioned roll 24 and is fed forwardly in a generally horizontal path of travel in a plane disposed at 90 to the plane of the previous path of travel. The cushioned roll 24 is suitably rotatably mounted upon a generally horizontally extending frame portion 25 forming part of the apparatus of this invention.

The folded continuous web of textile material 11 then passes a securing means generally indicated by the reference numeral 26. The securing means 26 comprises a pair of sewing machines 27 and 28 mounted on the stationary frame portion 25 and adapted to secure the folded continuous web of textile material 11 in the folded position thereof by inserting longitudinally extending lines of stitching 30 and 31 through the center panel 21 as may be seen in FIGURES and 6.

The sewing machines 27 and 28 are suitably driven by belt and pulley arrangements 32 (only one of which is shown) which are connected by any suitable drive arrangement to a driven motor 33 mounted on the stationary frame portion 24.

Following the securing means 26, the folded and secured continuous web of textile material 11 passes through feeding means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 35. The feeding means 35 comprises a first pair of driven superimposed feeding rolls 36 and 37, a second pair of driven superimposed feeding rolls 40 and 41, and a third pair of driven superimposed feeding rolls 42 and 43. These feeding rolls are mounted in suitable adjustable bearing mechanisms 45 carried by the stationary frame portion 24. These adjustable bearing mechanisms 45 may be adjusted to vary the pressure exerted on the web 11 as it passes between these feeding rolls. The feeding rolls are driven by any suitable mechanical connections (not shown) from the motor 33. The upper feeding rolls 36, 40 and 42 have suitable cutouts therein to compensate for the variable thicknesses in the folded and secured continuous web 11. These feeding rolls are adapted to pull the web 11 from the supply roll through the folding means 14 and the securing means 25.

Following the feeding means 35, the folded and secured continuous web of textile material 11 passes through a cutting means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 50. The cutting means 50 comprises a guillotine type cutting mechanism including a movable blade 51 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement from an up position (shown in FIGURE 7) to a down position and back to the up position on a pair of shafts 52 and 53. The shafts 52 and 53 are carried in suitable bearings 54 for vertical reciprocation. The shaft 53 is connected at its bottom end to a double acting pneumatic cylinder 55 adapted to receive air from any suitable source of supply (not shown) to reciprocate the shaft 53. The shafts 53 and 52 are interconnected by a shaft 56 having pinion gears 57 mounted on the ends thereof which mesh with teeth 58 on the shafts 52 and 53 to form a rack and pinion device. Thus it may be seen that as the shaft 53 is recip'rocated up and down, the shaft 52 will also be reciprocated up and down in synchronism therewith through the shaft 56 and the above described rack and pinion connections. This reciprocating motion of the 4 shafts 52 and 53 will reciprocate the cutting blade 51 up and down in the above described positions.

Cooperating with the cutting blade 51 is a stationary cutting blade 60 which is mounted on a portion of the horizontally extending frame 24.

For actuating the cutting means 50 to move the blade 51 into contact with the prefolded and secured web 11, there is provided a cam 61 having a detent 59 thereon and mounted for rotation on a shaft 62. The shaft 62 is mounted in suitable bearings 63 carried by the machine frame 24 and is rotated by a chain and sprocket drive 65 which is suitably connected to the machine motor 33. A cam follower 66 is attached to the end of a lever 67 which is pivoted at its other end to the stationary frame 24 and is connected medially thereof to a vertically extending lever 68. The lever 68 at its other end abuts a horizontally extending lever 69 which has a finger-like extension 70 thereon. The finger-like extension 70 is adapted to reciprocate up and down during each revolution of the cam 61 when the cam follower 66 rides into and out of the detent 59 through the above described lever connections. The finger-like extension 70 is adapted to engage a switch 71 in the downward position-thereof which is suitably electrically connected to the pneumatic cylinder 55 so that when the switch 71 is engaged by the finger member 70, the pneumatic cylinder 55 will be actuated to lower the blade 51 into contact with the blade 60 to cut the prefolded and secured web 11 passing therebetween. Upon reciprocation of the finger-like member 70 out of engagement with the switch 71, the pneumatic cylinder will raise the blade 51 to an upward position thereof out of contact with the blade 60 so that the prefolded and continuous web of material 11 may pass between the blades for a subsequent cutting action. The cam 61 is so arranged that the above described cutting action will be effected after a predetermined length of the prefolded and secured web 11 has passed through the cutting blades 51 and 60.

Associated with the above described cutting means 50 is a means 75 for interrupting the operation of the feeding rolls 42 and 43 during the operation of the cutting means whereby the feeding of the folded and secured web of material 11 will be stopped in the area of the cutting means during the cutting action thereof to ensure an even cut of the web.

The feed interruption means 75 consists of a spring clutch mounted between the drive roll 43 and the driving connection thereto from the motor 33. As may be seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, the drive roll 43 includes shaft members 76 extending outwardly from each end thereof and freely rotatably mounted in bearings 77 carried by the machine frame 24. On one of the shafts 76 is disposed a hub 77 which is keyed to the shaft 76 to rotate therewith. The hub 77 includes a pair of projections 80 and 81 extending outwardly therefrom, as may be seen in FIGURE 8. A sleeve .82 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 76 and is partially disposed within the hub 77. The sleeve 82 has one end of a coiled spring 83 secured thereto. The coil spring 83 is disposed within the hub 77 and has the other end thereof secure-d within a slot 78 in the hub 77. A sprocket gear 84 is keyed to the sleeve 82 for rotation therewith. The sprocket gear 84 is suitably connected by chain 86 to the motor 33 by any suitable means (not shown) for rotation of the feed roll 43.

The sprocket gear 84 has a projection 85 extending therefrom and adapted to be abutted by the projection 81 on the hub 77 The coil spring 83 is under compression so that the projection 81 and the projection 85 are normally in contact with each other to provide a drive between the rotating sprocket 84 and the 'hub 77 keyed to the shaft 76 to rotate the feeding roll 43.

To obtain an interruption in the rotation of the feed roll 43 during the cutting action of the cutting means 50, the finger-like projection 70 and the lever 69 are pivoted down to the above described switch engaging position to reciprocate the cutting blade 51, when this occurs the end of the lever 69 will align with the abutment to prevent rotation of the hub 77 and therefore the shaft 76 and feed roll 43 which are keyed thereto. The sprocket gear 84 will continue its rotation while the hub 77 is stopped by tightening up or coiling of the coil spring 83. When the cutting action is completed the lever 69 will be raised out of engagement with the abutment 80 allowing the hub 77 and feeding roller 43 to catch up with the rotating sprocket gear 84 to thereby continue the feed of the web 11. The time of this interruption will be less than one rotation of the sprocket gear 84 to prevent breakage of the coiled spring 83.

From the cutting means 50, the individually cut, prefolded and secured diapers, generally indicated by the reference numeral 95, are lead to a pair of conveyor belts 96 and 97, as shown in FIGURE 3. These conveyor belts 96 and 97 extend in the longitudinal direction of the travel of the diapers and are disposed around pulleys 98 rotatably carried by the stationary machine frame 24. The pulleys 98 are adaptedto be driven by any suitable means (not shown) from the motor 33 of the mechanism.

The conveyor belts 96 and 97 are disposed against pivotally mounted plates 100' and 101. These plates 100 and 101 are pivotally mounted on the stationary machine frame 24 and held in an upward position, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7, by rod members 102. These rod members 102 are fixedly carried by levers 103 keyed to a shaft 104 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the machine frame 24. The shaft 104 includes a lever 105 fixedly mounted on one end thereof which is in turn connected to a cam follower lever 106. The cam follower lever 106 is guided into contact with a cam 107 by passing through an aperture in an extension of the stationary frame 24, as may be seen in FIGURE 7. The cam 107 includes a detent 108 therein and is carried by and driven by the shaft 62 in the manner described above.

In operation, the cut diapers 95 are led forwardly from the cutting means 50 by the belts 96 and 97 which squeeze the longitudinal edges of the diaper between the belts and the pivotally mounted plates 101. When an individually cut diaper reaches the forward end of the mechanism, the detent 108 in the cam 107 has rotated in the direction of the arrowin FIGURE 7 to such a position that the lever 106 will drop therein. When this action occurs, the lever 106 will pivot the shaft 104 through the lever 105 to lower the rods 102. This lowering of the rods 102 will allow the pivotally mounted plates 101 to move downwardly by the force of gravity and thereby release the individually cut diapers 95 to fall downwardly onto an apparatus to be hereinafter described.

For receiving the diapers from the pivoted plate 101, there is provided means for closing the cut edges 110 of the prefolded and secured diapers 95, generally indicated by the reference numeral 111. The enclosure means 111 comprises a first set of spaced parallel conveyor bolts 112 and 113 suitably mounted around sets of pulleys 114 and 115, respectively. The pulleys 114 and 115 are suitably rotatably mounted on a, stationary frame portion 116 extending transversely of the stationary frame portion 24. The pulleys 114 and 115 are adapted to be driven by any suitable means (not shown) to drive the conveyor belts 112 and 113 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 3. A third conveyor belt 117 is mounted on rotating rolls 118 and 119 carried by the stationary frame portion 116 between a rearward portion of the conveyor belts 112 and 113 to support the out, prefolded and secured diapers 95 as they are conveyed by the conveyor belts 112 and 113.

Thus it may be seen, that the diapers 95 are received on the conveyor belts 112 and 113 and the conveyor belt 117 when they are dropped from the pivoted plates 100 and 101. The individually cut diapers 95 are then conveyed forwardly by the conveyor belts 112 and 113 along an elongate path extending transversely of the diapers 95.

A second set of conveyor belts 120* and 121 is superimposed over the forwardly extending portion of the conveyor belts 112 and 113 beyond the conveyor belt 117. These conveyor belts 120 and 121 extend beyond the belts 112 and 113 and are mounted around sets of pulleys 122 and 123, respectively, which are suitably mounted on the frame 116 and are driven by any suitable means (not shown) to rotate the conveyor belts 120 and 121 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 1. A plate 124 is disposed between this portion of the belts 112 and 113 for supporting the diapers 95.

Therefore, the individually cut diapers 95 are sandwiched between the conveyor belts 112 and 120 and the conveyor belts 113 and 121 and are supported by the plate 124 as they are conveyed forwardly. During this conveying action the diapers pass a first sewing mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 129. The sewing mechanism 129 is mounted on the stationary frame portion 116 adjacent the conveyor belt 113. The sewing machanism 129 comprises an overedge sewing machine adapted to be driven by any suitable means (not shown) so that as one of the cut edges 110 of the diaper 95 passes thereby on the conveyor belts 112 and 113, the sewing machine 129 will insert overedge stitching therealon thus closing one of the folded cut edges of the diaper 95.

Upon reaching the end of the conveyor belts 112 and 113 and following insertion of overedge stitching along one out edge, the diapers 95 are conveyed forwardly onto a pair of pivotally mounted plates 125 and 126 by the conveyor belts 120 and 121. The plates 125 and 126 are pivoted to the stationary frame 116 and are held in an upward position by a pair of pivoting rod members 127 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 9). The pivoted rod members 127 operate in a similar manner to the pivoted rod members 102, described above, so that the plates 125 and 126 may receive a diaper 95 thereon and pivot to a downward position to release the diaper 95 to be received by a further conveying mechanism, to be de scribed hereinafter.

As the diapers drop from the pivotal plates 125 and 126 they are received on a conveyor belt 130 mounted around a pair of rolls 131 and 132 carried by the stationary frame 116 and driven by any suitable means (not shown) to rotate the conveyor belt 130 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURES 3 and 9. The direction of travel of the conveyor belt 130 is opposite to the direction of travel of conveyor belts 112 and 113 and the conveyor belts 120 and 121 so that the diapers 95 which have one of their cut ends closed by overedge stitching will be conveyed in an opposite transverse direction.

As the individually cut diapers 95 are conveyed in the opposite direction by convey-or belt 130, they will be sandwiched generally medially of the conveyor belt 130 by the conveyor belts 112 and 113 traveling in the op posite direction, as may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 10. Also, as the individually cut diapers 95 are conveyed forwardly along the conveyor 130 they will pass a second sewing mechanism 135 which is mounted on the stationary frame portion 116 and comprises an overedge sewing machine driven by any suitable means (not shown) to insert overedge stitching along the other folded cut edge of the prefolded and secured diapers 95.

Following insertion of the last described overedge stitching, the individually cut diapers 95, which now have both of their folded cut edges closed by overedge stitching, will be conveyed from the conveyor belt 130 onto another pair of pivoted plates (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 9) by the conveyor belts 112 and 113. The pivoted plates 140 are held in an upward position by pivoting rod members 141 (only one of which is shown). These rod members operate in the same manner as the rod members 102, above described, to release the plates 140 to drop the diapers 95 onto a mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Upon releasing of the individually cut diapers 95 from the plates 140, they will fall onto a conveyor belt 145 suitably mounted on pulleys 146 (only one of which is shown) carried by the stationary frame portion 116. The conveyor belt 145 and pulleys 146 are adapted to be intermittently driven by any suitable means (not shown) and are operatively connected to a switch 150 adapted to be contacted by the diapers 95 as they are conveyed to the forward ends of pivoting plates 140. The switch 150 is so constructed as to cause the conveyor belt 145 to index forwardly for reception of another stack when the desired predetermined number of diapers have contacted the switch and have been received in a stack on the conveyor belt 145.

From the above description, it may be seen that this invention has provided an automatic method and apparatus for taking an open width continuous web of diaper material from a supply roll, folding the diaper material into a prefolded condition, securing the folded diaper material in the prefolded condition, cutting the folded and secured diaper material into individually cut diapers, closing the cut ends of the diapers and stacking the individually cut diapers into stacks for removal by an operator. This automatic method and apparatus eliminates many manual operations which require a number of operators and thus furnishes a method and apparatus of automatic diaper production which saves time and expense to the manufacturer.

This invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers from a continuous web of textile material comprising:

(a) supply means adapted to suply a continuous web of material;

(b) driven feeding means adapted to feed the continuous web of material from said supply means in an elongate path of travel through said apparatus;

() folding means disposed adjacent said supply means and adapted to fold the continuous web of material with a triple reverse fold to form a center panel comprised of four folded-over layers of material and two side panels extending transversely outwardly from each side of the center panel comprised of two folded-over layers of material;

(d) securing means disposed adjacent said folding means and adapted to receive the folded continuous web of material and permanently secure the web in the folded condition;

(e) cutting means disposed adjacent said securing means for transversely cutting the folded and secured continuous web of material into individual diapers of a predetermined length; and

(f) means for interrupting operation of at least a part of said feeding means during the operation of said cutting means whereby the feeding of the folded and secured web of material will be stopped in the area of said cutting means to insure an even cut thereof, said means for interrupting the operation of said feeding means comprising spring clutch means operatively associated with said cutting means and adapted to be disengaged upon actuation of said cutting means.

2. Apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers, as set forth in claim 1, in which said folding means comprises a first folding means including a pair of converging folding rods adapted to insert first and second reverse folds in the continuous web as the web passes thereby and a second folding means including an elongate folding member which is generally U-shaped in cross-section having a pair of spaced apart leg members and an interconnecting member which is generally perpendicular to said leg members, said leg members increasing in width from one end of said elongate member to the other end, said interconnecting member decreasing in width from one end of said elongate member to the other end while said leg members are increasing in width, and said second folding means adapted to insert a third reverse fold in the continuous web as the web passes thereby.

3. Apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers, as set forth in claim 1, in which said securing means comprises a pair of sewing machines adapted to apply longitudinal lines of stitching in said folded continuous web of material to secure said web of material in the folded position thereof.

4. Apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers, as set forth in claim 1, including means for closing the cut edges of the folded and individually cut diapers.

5. Apparatus for automatically producing prefolded and secured diapers, as set forth in claim 4, in which said means for closing the cut edges of the diaper comprises a first conveyor means adapted to receive the folded and cut diapers from said cutting means and convey them in a path of travel generally transversely of the folded and cut diapers, first sewing means disposed adjacent said first conveyor means and adapted to insert stitching along one folded and cut edge of the diaper to close the cut edge as the diaper travels thereby, second conveyor means adapted to receive the diapers from said first conveyor means and convey them in a path of travel generally transversely of the diapers in the opposite direction from said first conveyor means, and second sewing means disposed adjacent said second conveyor means and adapted to insert stitching along the other folded and cut edge of the diaper to close the other cut edge as the diaper travels thereby.

6. Apparatus for cutting a continuous web of textile material into individually cut pieces of a predetermined length comprising:

(a) feeding means adapted to feed a continuous web of textile material;

(b) cutting means disposed adjacent said feeding means and cooperating therewith for transversely cutting the continuous web of textile material into individually cut pieces of a predetermined length; and

(c) means for interrupting the operation of at least a part of said feeding means during the operation of said intermittently actuated cutting means whereby the feeding of the continuous web of textile material will be stopped in the area of said cutting means to insure an even cut thereof, said means for interrupting the operation of said feeding means comprising spring clutch means operatively associated with said cutting means and adapted to be disengaged upon actuation of said cutting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,559 1/1905 Farmer 270-93 1,618,711 2/ 1927 Hunt 270-94 2,313,433 3/1943 Golden 112-10 2,332,324 10/1943 Lee et al. 112-2 2,834,307 5/1958 Jones et al 112-2 2,940,404 6/1960 Damon 112-10 3,082,715 3/1963 Lofgren 112-2 13,126,848 3/1964 Gastonguay 112-10 3,273,522 9/1966 Gore et .al. 112-2 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

I, R, BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING PREFOLDED AND SECURED DIAPERS FROM A CONTINUOUS WEB OF TEXTILE MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) SUPPLY MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPLY A CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL: (B) DRIVEN FEEDING MEANS ADAPTED TO FEED THE CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL FROM SAID SUPPLY MEANS IN AN ELONGATE PATH OF TRAVEL THROUGH SAID APPARATUS; (C) FOLDING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SUPPLY MEANS AND ADAPTED TO FOLD THE CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL WITH A TRIPLE REVERSE FOLD TO FORM A CENTER PANEL COMPRISED OF FOUR FOLDED-OVER LAYERS OF MATERIAL AND TWO SIDE PANELS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OUTWARDLY FROM EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER PANEL COMPRISED OF TWO FOLDED-OVER LAYERS OF MATERIAL; (D) SECURING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID FOLDING MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FOLDED CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL AND PERMANENTLY SECURE THE WEB IN THE FOLDED CONDITION; (E) CUTTING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SECURING MEANS FOR TRANSVERSELY CUTTING THE FOLDED AND SECURED CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL INTO INDIVIDUAL DIAPERS OF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH; AND (F) MEANS FOR INTERRUPTING OPERATION OF AT LEAST A PART OF SAID FEEDING MEANS DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID CUTTING MEANS WHEREBY THE FEEDING OF THE FOLDED AND SECURED WEB OF MATERIAL WILL BE STOPPED IN THE AREA OF SAID CUTTING MEANS TO INSURE AN EVEN CUT THEREOF, SAID MEANS FOR INTERRUPTING THE OPERATION OF SAID FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING SPRING CLUTCH MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CUTTING MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE DISENGAGED UPON ACTUATION OF SAID CUTTING MEANS. 